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EP0483001B1 - Dispositif à flotteur indexe sur le fond pour la mesure de niveau liquide dans un réservoir - Google Patents

Dispositif à flotteur indexe sur le fond pour la mesure de niveau liquide dans un réservoir Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0483001B1
EP0483001B1 EP19910402826 EP91402826A EP0483001B1 EP 0483001 B1 EP0483001 B1 EP 0483001B1 EP 19910402826 EP19910402826 EP 19910402826 EP 91402826 A EP91402826 A EP 91402826A EP 0483001 B1 EP0483001 B1 EP 0483001B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
support
fact
tank
axis
gauge device
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19910402826
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0483001A1 (fr
Inventor
Jean-Jacques Bezard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Jaeger SA
Original Assignee
Jaeger SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Jaeger SA filed Critical Jaeger SA
Publication of EP0483001A1 publication Critical patent/EP0483001A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0483001B1 publication Critical patent/EP0483001B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
    • G01F23/30—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats
    • G01F23/32—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats using rotatable arms or other pivotable transmission elements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
    • G01F23/30—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats
    • G01F23/32—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats using rotatable arms or other pivotable transmission elements
    • G01F23/36—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats using rotatable arms or other pivotable transmission elements using electrically actuated indicating means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of gauging the level and / or volume of liquid contained in a tank.
  • the present invention finds particular, but not exclusive, application to the measurement of fuel contained in a motor vehicle tank.
  • the transducer assembly comprises a cursor which cooperates with a resistive element to define a variable resistance as a function of the level of liquid contained in the reservoir.
  • EP-A-403 391 describes another device of the state of the art according to Article 54 (3) EPC.
  • the shoe carried at the end of the support is biased towards the bottom wall of the tank.
  • bottom indexed gauging devices These devices are generally called “bottom indexed gauging devices”.
  • the gauging devices indexed on the bottom are particularly advantageous when the tanks are susceptible to significant deformation, as is the case for the plastic fuel tanks commonly installed today on motor vehicles.
  • gauging devices indexed on the bottom of the type described in the aforementioned documents, equipping two full tanks, will provide different information if the two tanks undergo non-identical height deformations.
  • the known gauging devices indexed on the bottom can deliver variable indications after filling of the tank.
  • the object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art and to propose a new gauging device which delivers reliable gauging information both in the lower part and in the upper part of the tank.
  • the reservoir 10 is formed of two main walls 12 respectively, upper 12 and lower 14 and side walls connecting these. Two side walls 16, 18 are visible in FIGS. 1 to 7.
  • the main upper 12 and lower 14 walls are horizontal and flat, while the visible side walls 16 and 18 are vertical and flat.
  • the walls 12, 14, 16 and 18 may not be flat.
  • the upper and lower main walls 12, 14 may not be perfectly horizontal, while the side walls 16 and 18 may not be perfectly vertical.
  • the gauging device according to the present invention shown in the appended figures essentially comprises a base 100, a support 200, a shoe 250, a float 300 carried by an arm 350 and a set of transducers 400.
  • the level of fuel or liquid contained in the tank 10 is referenced 20.
  • the base 100 is designed to be fixed, in leaktight manner, to a wall of the tank 10.
  • the base 100 is designed to be fixed on the upper wall 12.
  • the base 100 may be fitted with pipes, in particular for the suction and delivery of fuel.
  • the support 200 is articulated on a part 102 of the base internal to the reservoir, around a horizontal axis 202.
  • the axis 202 of articulation of the support 200 is thus placed near the upper wall 12.
  • the shoe 250 is carried at the end 204 of the support 200 which is remote, that is to say opposite, to the articulation axis 202 above.
  • the shoe 250 is biased towards the main wall of the reservoir remote from this axis of articulation 202. It is, according to the representation of FIG. 1, the bottom wall 14.
  • the shoe 250 can be urged towards the main wall 14 of the reservoir 10 by gravity, that is to say by the weight of the support 200 articulated around the axis 202. However, if necessary an elastic member can be placed between the base 100 and the support 200 for urging the shoe 250 towards the wall 14 of the tank.
  • the pad 250 has a circular cross section of revolution centered on a horizontal axis 252.
  • the shoe 250 can be rigidly fixed on the end 204 of the support 200.
  • the shoe 250 is mounted for rotation on the end 204 of the support 200 around a horizontal axis which coincides with the aforementioned axis 252, that is to say the central axis of the shoe 250.
  • the pad 250 can be formed of a carriage comprising at least one wheel articulated on the end 204 of the support 200 around its horizontal central axis.
  • the pad 250 can be produced for example from a thermoplastic material such as polyamide or polyacetal.
  • the shoe 250 preferably formed of a wheel articulated on the end 204 of the support 200 allows the latter to follow without blocking the fluctuations in height of the wall 14 of the tank.
  • the support 200 is formed of two rectilinear elements 210, 212 inclined between them.
  • the element 210 is articulated on the base 100 around the axis 202.
  • the element 212 carries the shoe 250.
  • the junction zone between the two elements 210, 212 is referenced 214.
  • This junction zone 214 carries the transducer assembly 400. It will be recalled that this transducer assembly 400 includes a cursor which cooperates with a resistive element.
  • the float 300 is carried at the free end 354 of the arm 350.
  • the arm 350 is articulated by its second end 356, around a horizontal axis 352 on the support 200. More specifically, the arm 350 is articulated around the horizontal axis 352 on the junction zone 214 of the elements 210, 212, at the level of the transducer assembly 400.
  • the cursor of the transducer assembly 400 is carried by the arm 350 while the associated resistive element is carried rigidly by the support 200.
  • the cursor of the transducer assembly 400 can be placed rigidly on the support 200, while the associated resistive element would be placed on the float arm 350.
  • the float arm 350 moving pivotally relative to the support 200, the cursor of the transducer assembly 400 is displaced relative to the associated resistive element, and the transducer assembly 400 thus defines a variable resistance as a function of the level of liquid contained in the reservoir.
  • the float 300 can be the subject of different variant embodiments.
  • the float 300 may have a circular vertical section of revolution.
  • the float 300 can thus be formed of a sphere or a cylinder with a horizontal central axis.
  • the float 300 of circular vertical section of revolution can be rigidly fixed on the end 354 of the arm 350.
  • the float 300 can also be rotatably mounted on the end 354 of the arm 350 around a horizontal axis 302 which preferably coincides with its central axis, and with its center of flotation.
  • the float 300 may have a non-circular vertical section of revolution, such as for example a generally rectangular vertical section.
  • the float is preferably articulated on the end 354 of the arm 350 about a horizontal axis 302. This axis 302 preferably coincides with the center of flotation of the float 310.
  • the axes 202, 252 and 352 above are horizontal and parallel to each other.
  • the axis 302 of the float 300 is advantageously parallel to the axes 202, 252 and 352.
  • the axis 352 of articulation of the arm 350 on the support 200 is equidistant from the axis 202 of articulation of the support 200 on the base 100 and the axis 252 of the shoe 250.
  • the axis 352 of articulation of the arm 350 on the support 200 is advantageously located on a perpendicular bisector of the segment contained in a vertical plane and connecting the axes 252 and 352.
  • the distance separating the axis 352 of articulation of the arm 350 on the support 200 and the axis 302 of the float 300 is at least substantially equal to the distance separating the axis 352 and l axis 202 and at the distance separating axes 352 and 252.
  • the arm 350 will always occupy the same position relative to the support 200, during the gauging of the maximum and minimum levels in the reservoir, and consequently the transducer assembly 400 will define values constant resistances corresponding to the maximum and minimum gauging level whatever the deformations of the tank 10.
  • FIG 2 a gauging device according to that previously described and shown in Figure 1. More specifically, in Figure 2, the gauging device is shown in two different positions resulting from deformations in height of the bottom wall 14 of the reservoir 10.
  • the gauging device is represented in continuous lines in a position identical to that of FIG. 1, while the gauging device is represented in broken lines in FIG. 2 in a second position resulting from an upward deformation of the bottom wall 14 of the tank.
  • the second position illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 2 is accompanied by index a.
  • the support 200 slides or rolls thereon thanks to the presence of the pad 250.
  • the end of the support 200 distant from the axis 202 always rests against the bottom wall 14.
  • the arm 350 and the support 200 always occupy identical relative positions, and consequently the cursor and the resistive track of the transducer assembly occupy identical positions and define a reliable resistance.
  • the gauging device not only gives perfectly reliable information at the minimum and maximum gauging levels, but also delivers correct information as a percentage of liquid level in the tank, whatever the deformations of the bottom wall 14 thereof.
  • the axes 202, 252 and 352 are not aligned, that is to say that the support 200 is not straight, so that the arm 350 never crosses the vertical during its displacement.
  • the segment connecting the articulation axis 352 of the arm 350 and the axis 302 of the float 300 must not cross the vertical.
  • the axis 202 of articulation of the support 200 on the base 100 and the axis 252 of the shoe 250 must always be located on the same side of a vertical plane passing through the axis 352 of articulation of the arm 350 on the support 200.
  • either the axes 352 and 252 must be placed on respectively opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through the axis 202, or the axes 352 and 202 must be placed on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through axis 252.
  • the radius R of the shoe 250 is equal to the distance L3 separating the axis 302 of the float 300 from its generator or lower surface.
  • the radius R of the pad 250 is advantageously equal to the radius L3 of the float 300.
  • the radius R of the pad 250 is advantageously equal at the height L3 separating the axis 302 of the float 310 from the lower surface 312 of the latter.
  • the distance L1 separating the axis 202 of articulation of the support 200 on the base 100 of the lower surface 104 of the base 100 is equal to the distance L2 separating l axis 302 of float 300 of its generator or upper surface.
  • the above-mentioned distance L1 is equal to the radius L2 of the float 300.
  • the above-mentioned distance L1 is equal to the height L2 separating the axis 302 of the float 310 from its upper surface 314.
  • the axis 302 of the float 300 is coaxial with the axis 252 of the shoe 250.
  • the axis 302 of the float 300 is coaxial with the articulation axis 202 of the support 200.
  • the axes 252 and 352 are arranged respectively on either side of a vertical plane passing through the axis 202.
  • the second embodiment shown in Figure 3 differs from that previously described and shown in Figures 1 and 2 only in that the axes 252 and 352 are located on the same side of a vertical plane passing through l axis 202.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 Those skilled in the art will note on a comparative examination of FIGS. 2 and 3 that the gauging curves defined by the path 320 followed by the float 300 differ slightly from one to the other case.
  • the choice between the two arrangements shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 can be made as a function of each particular case, that is to say of the geometry of the reservoir 10, because of knowing whether the maximum precision is sought in the upper part or in the lower part of the tank, and finally and above all to follow the line of least agitation of the tank.
  • the line of least agitation of the fluid in the reservoir is understood to mean the area of the latter at the level of which the fluctuations of the fluid due for example to the accelerations of the vehicle are the lowest.
  • the support 200 is articulated, around the horizontal axis 202 on a support means 110 indexed on the bottom 14 of the tank.
  • the support element 110 is guided in vertical translation by the base 100, for example in a chimney 106 secured to the base 100.
  • the support element 110 is pushed against the bottom 14 of the tank by elastic means 112.
  • the shoe 250 is biased towards the wall of the reservoir opposite that adjacent to the axis 202. It is therefore, according to FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper wall 12.
  • the pad 250 can be urged towards the upper wall 12 of the tank by simple gravity. Where appropriate, however, as shown in FIG. 5, the shoe 250 can be urged towards the upper wall 12 of the reservoir by an elastic urging means 260 interposed between the support element 110 and the support 200.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 differ from each other, in a manner comparable to the two embodiments represented in FIGS. 2 and 3, by the relative position of the axes 202, 252 and 352.
  • the axes 252 and 352 are placed on the same side of a vertical plane passing through the axis 202.
  • the axes 252 and 352 are placed respectively on either side of a vertical plane passing through the axis 202.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 the operation of the device represented in FIGS. 4 and 5 remains identical to that previously described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
  • the base 100 is designed to be fixed no longer on the upper wall 10 of the tank, but on a side wall 16, generally vertical, thereof.
  • the base 100 could be fixed on a wall inclined to the vertical or a horizontal wall different from the upper wall of the tank.
  • the support 200 is no longer articulated directly on the base 100 but on an intermediate support element 120.
  • the support element 120 is articulated on the base 100 around a horizontal axis 122 by a first of its ends 121.
  • An elastic member 123 interposed between the base 100 and the intermediate support element 120 biases the second end 124 of the latter against the internal surface of the upper wall 12 of the reservoir.
  • the support element 200 is itself articulated around the above-mentioned horizontal axis 202 on this second end 124 of the intermediate support element 120.
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 differ from each other by the relative arrangement of the axes 202, 252 and 352.
  • the axes 252 and 352 are arranged respectively on either side of a vertical plane passing through the axis 202.
  • the axes 252 and 352 are placed on the same side of a vertical plane passing through the axis 202.
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 The operation of the devices represented in FIGS. 6 and 7 remains identical to that previously described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 indexing the end 124 of the intermediate support element 120 against the lower wall 14 of the reservoir and not point against the upper wall 12 of the latter.
  • the arrangements of the support 200 would be in accordance with those shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and not point to those of FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • the segment passing through the axes 202 and 252 must never cross the vertical.
  • the distance separating the axes 202, 252, plus the radius of the shoe 250 and the distance separating the axis 202 from the lower surface 104 of the base must be greater than the greatest possible height of the tank 10.
  • the pad 250 may have a non-circular vertical section of revolution. However, preferably, the shoe 250 is then articulated in rotation about the axis 252 on the end 204 of the support 200.
  • the expression “axis of the pad” coincides with the central axis of the zone of the meeting points of the normals on the surface of the tank erected from the points of contact of the pad 250 on the tank.
  • stops are preferably provided to limit the travel of the various biasing springs.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Level Indicators Using A Float (AREA)
EP19910402826 1990-10-24 1991-10-23 Dispositif à flotteur indexe sur le fond pour la mesure de niveau liquide dans un réservoir Expired - Lifetime EP0483001B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9013173 1990-10-24
FR9013173A FR2668596A1 (fr) 1990-10-24 1990-10-24 Dispositif a flotteur indexe sur le fond pour la mesure de niveau de liquide dans un reservoir.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0483001A1 EP0483001A1 (fr) 1992-04-29
EP0483001B1 true EP0483001B1 (fr) 1995-03-15

Family

ID=9401525

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19910402826 Expired - Lifetime EP0483001B1 (fr) 1990-10-24 1991-10-23 Dispositif à flotteur indexe sur le fond pour la mesure de niveau liquide dans un réservoir

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0483001B1 (sk)
DE (1) DE69108170T2 (sk)
FR (1) FR2668596A1 (sk)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2293013A (en) * 1994-08-27 1996-03-13 Ford Motor Co Liquid level sender device
JP2004212286A (ja) * 2003-01-07 2004-07-29 Hitachi Unisia Automotive Ltd タンク内の液体残量検出装置

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2740653A1 (de) * 1977-09-09 1979-03-22 Vdo Schindling Fluessigkeitsstandsmesseinrichtung
DE3151161C2 (de) * 1981-12-23 1983-12-01 Max Planck Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V., 3400 Göttingen Schmutzhöhenmeßgerät
FR2648557B1 (fr) * 1989-06-15 1993-09-24 Jaeger Dispositif de mesure de niveau de carburant dans un reservoir de vehicule automobile

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2668596A1 (fr) 1992-04-30
DE69108170D1 (de) 1995-04-20
EP0483001A1 (fr) 1992-04-29
FR2668596B1 (sk) 1994-08-19
DE69108170T2 (de) 1995-11-02

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